BRIndex30 closed at 22,463.52 points, down 2.73 points or 0.01 percent with a turnover of 182.012 million shares. The KSE-100 index increased by 231.31 points or 0.58 percent to close at 40,289.16 points. Trading activity further improved as daily volumes on the ready counter increased to 245.866 million shares as compared to 178.989 million shares traded Wednesday.
Foreign investors remained net buyers of shares worth $7.1 million. The market capitalization increased by Rs 30 billion to Rs 8.073 trillion. Out of total 359 active scrips, 171 closed in positive, 166 in negative while the value of 22 stocks remained unchanged.
Pak International Bulk Terminal was the volume leader with 32.699 million shares. It gained Re 0.81 to close at Rs 12.01 followed by Bank of Punjab that closed at Rs 13.18 without any change with 24.606 million shares.
Nestle Pakistan and Unilever Foods were the top gainers with Rs 100.00 and Rs 90.00, respectively to close at Rs 8,200.00 and Rs 7,100.00. Hinopak Motor and Indus Motor Co were the top losers with Rs 25.93 and Rs 24.11, respectively to close at Rs 508.97 and Rs 1,245.31.
BR Commercial Banks Index surged by 95.45 points or 1.11 percent to close at 8,671.28 points with total turnover of 40.882 million shares. BR Cement Index increased by 64.76 points or 1.58 percent to close at 4,164.72 points with 15.217 million shares. BR Oil and Gas Index gained 14.5 points or 0.29 percent to close at 4,954.49 points with 9.268 million shares.
BR Tech. & Comm. Index lost 11.97 points or 1.15 percent to close at 1,027.06 points with 20.116 million shares. BR Power Generation and Distribution Index closed at 6,340.70 points, down 28.84 points or 0.45 percent with 7.689 million shares.
An analyst at Topline Securities said the eagerly awaited economic package announced on Wednesday (after trading hours) did not disappoint as it offered relief to stock markets, local manufacturers, exporters, Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) and farmers.
The advance tax of 0.02 percent on share trading under Presumptive Tax Regime (PTR) was also abolished. Resultantly, the index gained 231 points, closing at 40,289 level. Commercial Banks was the best performing sector as it added 130 points to the index. It was followed by Cement and E&P''s which added 180 points, cumulatively. Worst performing sectors were Engineering and OMC''s as they chipped away 32 points, cumulatively.